Why France Can't Fight

Years of shortchanging defense are showing up in its Africa campaign.

Updated Jan. 29, 2013 12:01 a.m. ET

The French armed forces field some of the world's most sophisticated fighter jets, nuclear submarines, attack helicopters and armored vehicles. The country spent $52 billion last year on defense, which puts it in the world's top league in total military spending. That's more than twice what such robust middle powers as South Korea, Turkey and Israel spend.

Yet in its commendable efforts to fight terrorists in Mali, Paris is all but begging for logistical and military support and has come up short on everything from...